Automatic flasher for electric lights.



J. 0. HOUSER. AUTOMATIC PLASHBB FOR ELECTRIC LIGHTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22,1908.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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Attorney J. 0'. HOUSER.

AUTOMATIC FLASHER FOR ELECTRIC LIGHTS,

APPLICATION IILED MAY 22,1908

' Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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. AUTOMATIC FLASHER FOB ELECTRIC LIGHTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22,1908.

985 ,207. Patented Sept. 909.

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UNTTFA JOHN O. HOUSEE, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC FLASHER FOR ELECTRIC LIGHTS.

Application filed. May 22, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN O. I-lonsnn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Flashersfor Electric Lights, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic switches, and its object is to providea simple and economically constructed device for periodically turning onand turning off electric lights, as in the operation of an electricsign.

My invention consists in the combination with a spring motor, of aninterrupter adapted to be operated thereby and means for varying thespeed of the motor, as well as in the parts and in the combination andarrangement of parts as will hereinafter be more fully described andclaimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying myinvention. F ig. 2 is a detail perspective view of one of the improvedbinding posts. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation on a linecorresponding to the line 0300 of Fig. 1 of the device, parts of thespring motor being broken away. Fig. l is a plan View partly in sectionon a line corresponding to the line yy of Fig. 1, better illustratingpart of the regulating mechanism. Fig. 5 is a partial end elevationillustrating a modification of my improved device. Fig. 6 is a verticaltransverse section, better illustrating the construc tion of the switchand the interrupter, parts of the motor, casing and speed varyingmechanism being omitted for the sake of clearness.

Constructed as illustrated, the spring motor 1 consists in a train ofgear wheels transmitting the motion of the spring 2 to the cam 3, andalso to the escapement wheel 4t. These gear wheels are so arranged thatthe escapement wheel 4 turns considerably faster than does the cam 8.The spring 2 is wound up by turning the shaft 5 by means of a key. Thespring motor 1 is mounted on the rear wall of the case 6 which isconstructed of fire-proof insulating material, such as porcelain.Mounted on the interior of one of the side walls is a bar 7 which runsvertically of the wall and is bent horizontally and runs along theinterior of the top of the case, where it is held in position by meansof a nut 8 on the lower end of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

Serial No. 424,300.

screw stud of the post 9. On the interior of the other side wall of thecase the bar 10 runs vertically thereof, and is bent horizontally to runalong the interior of the top of the case, where it is held by means ofa nut 11 on the screw stud of the binding post 12. The bar 7 at itslower end is bent horizontally and then upwardly to form one of the jawsof a clamp 13,.the other jaw of the clamp being formed by an additionalpiece secured to the bar 7. The bar 10- is also bent horizontally andruns across the case to a point above the clamp 13 on the bar 7 and isbent downward to form one jaw of a clamp 14, the other jaw being formedby an additional piece secured on the bar 10.

In the clamps 13 and 14: are secured the contact pieces 15 and 16,respectively, of the interrupter, preferably of" carbon. The lowercontact piece 15 in the clamp 13 is so shaped that its upper edge formsa salient angle, while the upper contact piece 16 in the clamp 1st is soshaped that its lower edge forms a reentering angle, the salient angleof the piece 15 being equal to the reentering angle of the piece 16, sothat the contact pieces may be brought together and form etlicientelectrical contact along the entire surfaces of the adjacent edges. Thelengths of the bars 7 and 10 are so proportioned that these contactpieces 15 and 16 will be allowed to be brought together, as abovedescribed, and they are normally held together by the pressure exerted,due to the resiliency of the bar 10. which passes across the case 6.This bar 10 passes in front of the spring motor 1, and the cam 53, whichis mounted on the spring motor 1 and adapted to be turned thereby, ispositioned under the bar 10 so that it will raise it and draw thecontact piece 16 away from the contact piece 15 and then release it,allowing the contact of the pieces to be resumed. As illustrated, thisis accomplished by providing a slot 10 in the bar 10 so positioned withrespect to the cam 3 that the cam 3 may rotate throughout part of itsrevolution without engaging to raise the bar 10, but that during part ofits revolution it will engage to raise the bar 10 the desired distance.Preferably the edge of the cam 3 does not engage directly with thesurface of the bar 10, but the bar 10 is provided with a staple 17 andthis staple 17 has. journaled thereon a roller 18, which makes contactwith the edge of the cam with the etlect of decreasing the friction ofthe operation of the device.

From the above it will be understood that the regular rotation of thecam 3 by the operation of the spring motor will cause regular rising andfalling, and consequently regular making and breaking of the contactbetween the contact pieces of the interrupter. The controlling of thespeed of the spring motor is the purpose of the escape mentwheel 4,which, as hereinbefore stated, turns considerably faster than does thecam For thus controlling the speed of the motor the escapement. wheel tis provided with an anchor 19 pivoted on the frame of the spring motorand having pallets adapted to engage alternately with the teeth. of theesca ement wheel 4. This anchor 19 is )rovided with a downwardly extenling tlat spring 20 reaching to a point closely adjacent to the bottomof the case (3, where two lugs 21 and 22 are provided, one of them beingon each side of the lower end of the spring 20, which is adapted toalternately engage with them and have the length of its vibrationlimited thereby. Thus constructed, the escapement wheel 4- is rotatedsimultaneously with the rotation of the cam 3, in consetpience of whichthe speed of rotation of the cam 3 will be noportional to the speed ofrotation of the escapement wheel I. The anchor '15) and its downwardlyextending spring 2) will be vibrated, due to the alternate engagement ofthe pallets of th-v anchor with the teeth of the escapement wheel l. Theinterval of time elapsing between the engagement of one pallet of theanchor with the teeth of the escapement wheel i, and the engagement ofthe other pallet with the teeth will be proportional to the length oftime elapsing between the engagement of the lat spring 20 with one ofthe lugs 21 or and the engagement thereof with the other of the lugs,and this length of time will be proportional to the distance between thetwo lugs 21 and Thus, since at each vibration of the spring 20, onetooth of the esca ement wheel is released, the rota tion of theescapement wheel and conse quently the speed of the motor will beproportional to the time of vibration of the flat spring 20.

In consequence of the above conditions, the speed of the spring motormay be varied by varying the distance between the lugs 21 and 22. Forthis purpose the lugs 21 and are mounted on levers 2 and 24;, each ofwhich is pivoted. separately, near the rear of the case. (3, as is bestillustrated in Fig. lof the drawings. The lever 23 is somewhat longerthan the lever A, and its free end is provided with a lug which mayengage in any one of a series of notches 26 in 11 plate 27 mounted onthe front edge of the bottom of the case (S, and which is properlylabeled to indicate the direction in which the lever 23 should bell'lOVOtl to increase or decrease the speed of the motor. This lever isalsoprovided with a suitable handle for conveniently manipulating it. Inorder to cause the lever 23 to transmit its motion to the lever 24, aslot 2!) is provided in the lever 2st, which extends in a direction notconcentric to the pivotal mounting of the lever 24, and the lever 23 isprovided with a laterally extending lug 30, which has a stud 31projecting into the slot 29 of the lever 24. Thus, when the lever 23 ismoved toward the lever 24, the lever will also move toward the lever 23,and when the lever 23 is moved away from the lever 24, the lever 2i willalso move away from the lever 23. This arrangement has the etlect, whenthe levers are properly positioned, of maintaining each of the lugs 21and at its proper distance relative to the other. from the middle pointof the vibration of the spring 20, equalizing the impact of the spring20 thereon.

For t'ionveniently stopping the moto' and allowing it to start, a shoe32, preferably of leather or similar material so as not to injure theteeth of the eucapement wheel, mounted on a bell crank lever 33 in sucha position as to engage with the teeth of the escapement wheel -lto stopthe motor, or be disengagetfl therefrom by the movement of the lever toallow the motor to start. This bell crank lever 33 is pivoted on a stud13-! in the frame of the motor, and a spiral spring 35 is mounted. onthe stud 3-1: and engages with the lever 33 so as to normally hold thelever 33 in position to present the shoe 32 against the teeth of theesc: pement wheel 4 and hold the motor stationary. The other arm of thebell crank lever 33 has pivoted to its free end, a rod 36, which passesvertically up 'ard through the top of the case 6, where it is preferablybent horizontally, and then vertically dowmvard to again pass throughthe top of the case (3, whereby it may be guided in its verticalmovement. Thus arranged, when the rod 36 is depressed. the shoe 32 willbe drawn away from the teeth of the escapement wheel at against thepressure of the spiral spring 35 on the stud 3st, and the motor will beallowed to start. Inaddition to the post t) and the binding post 12 onthe top of the case (3, a binding post 37 is provided and is bifurcatedand has pivoted, between its two members thus formed. the blade 38. Thepost 9, with which the bar 7 is electrically connected, is alsobifurcated,and the blade 38 is adapted to enter between the members ofthe post 9 so that electrical contact may be made between the bar 7 andthe binding post: 37. An insulating piece 39 is mounted on the blade 38in such position as to engage with the rod. 36 and depress it when theblade iii is made to enter between the members of the bifurcated post 9.

My improved device is electrically connected to the electric currentproducing apparatus and to the electric lights, which it is desired toturn on and off thereby, by means of wires 40 and 411, the bared ends ofwhich are inserted in the binding posts 12 and 37, respectively, andclamped by means of screws 42 and 43 therein, respectively. Ashereinbefore described, when the rod 36 is depressed, it disengages theshoe 32 from the teeth of the escapement wheel 1 and allows the springmotor to start. Also, with the electrical connection above described,when the blade 38 is caused to enter between the members of thebifurcated post 9, the electrical current will be allowed to flowthrough the bar 7 and contact pieces 15 and 16, and through the bar 10,and will then only be interrupted by the breaking of the contact betweenthe contact pieces 15 and 16. Thus, the flow of the electric current maybe started and the spring motor may be started, simultaneously, with theone operation, which consists in depressing the blade 38. This blade 38is provided with an insulating handle 4:4 for manipulating it. Also,when the blade 38 is raised to stop the flow of the electric current,the rod 36 will be allowed to rise, and the spring 35 will operate thebell crank lever 33 to engage the shoe 32 with the teeth of theescapement wheel 4 and stop the motor. The screws 12 and 43 are each provided with two slots at right angles to each other, and a wire isrigidly secured in each of the binding posts, extending horizontallytherefrom, and then downwardly and into one of'the slots of the screw,to prevent it from turning after it has been adjusted to clamp one ofthe wires 40 or &1 in the binding post. The case 6 is provided with ahinged door so, also of fireproof insulating material, by means of whichthe front of the case may be closed. It will only be necessary to openthe hinged door a5 for winding the spring motor or for changing itsspeed by means of the regulator hereinbefore described. The contactpieces 15 and 16, secured in the clamps 13 and M, respectively, may beconveniently removed and replaced by new ones when they become worn fromuse.

It will be noted that the entire current is utilized in operating theelectric lights, it not being required to use any of it in operating theinterrupter, which results -'in inceased economy in use, while, due tothe simplicity of the device, its first cost is also minimized.

My improved device may be modified, as illustrated in Fig. 5 of thedrawings, by lengthening the shaft on which the cam 3 is mounted, andproviding any desired number of additional cams 3 thereon in variouspositions for turning on and off any number of different sets ofelectric lights, in which case an increased number of bars 7 and bars10, with contact pieces 15 and 16, respectively, held in the clamps 13and 14: thereon, respectively, may be provided. Each of the bars wouldbe provided with the rollers .18 journaled on the staples 17 for contactwith the cams 3.

\Vhile I have shown and described certain specific details ofconstruction and arrangement, I do not wish to be understood as limitingmyself thereto, but

NVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an automatic flasher for electric lights, a spring motor, a casein which the motor is mounted, separate bars secured to the walls of thecase, contact pieces on the bars, a cam on the motor adapted to berotated thereby and to move one of the bars, a switch adapted tocomplete an electrical connection between the bars, an escapement wheelon the motor, means for regulating the speed of the spring motor, a shoeadapted to engage with the escapement wheel, a lever on which the shoeis mounted, and a rod attached to the lever and extending through one ofthe walls of the case and adapted to be engaged by part of the switch,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In an automatic flasher for electric lights, a spring motor, meansfor varying the speed of the spring motor, an interrupter adapted to beoperated by the spring motor, an escapement wheel on the spring motor, ashoe adapted to engage with the escapement wheel, a lever on which theshoe is mounted, and a spring adapted to bear on the lever to normallyengage the shoe with the escapement wheel, a switch adapted to controlthe flow of current to the interrupter, and en gaging means between thelever and the switch whereby the flow of the current to the interrupterand the starting of the motor are simultaneously controlled,substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

3. In an automatic flasher for electric lights, abar carrying a contactpiece, another bar carrying another contact piece and having a slottherein, a cam adapted to rotate through the slot in the bar, means forengagement between the cam and the bar, and means for electricallyconnecting the bars with the electric lights and to the source of anelectric current, substantially as and for the purposes herein setforth.

4t. In an automatic flasher for electric lights, a spring motor, a caseof fireproof and insulating material in which the motor is mounted,separate bars secured to the interior walls of the case, contact pieceson the bars, a cam on the spring motor adapted to be rotated thereby andto move one of the bars, a switch adapted to complete an electi'icalconnection between the bars, an escapeinent wheel on the spring motor,means for regulating the speed of the spring motor, a shoe adapted toengage With the escapinent Wheel, a lever on which the shoe is mounted,and a rod attached to the lever and extending through one of the Wallsof the i i l I ease and adapted to be engaged by part of the switch,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

JOHN O. HOUSER. lVitnesses JAMES N. Ramsey, CLARENCE Pnnnnw.

